Rep. Slocum: New Public Safety Bill Cuts Funding for Proven Programs

Editor's Note: The following information was taken from a press release from the office Rep. Linda Slocum.

The Minnesota House of Representative's Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee passed a omnibus public safety finance bill March 23. HF 853 cuts programs significantly, and raids accounts and funds dedicated to other purposes.

State Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL–Richfield) raised strong objections to the bill and voted against it.

“These cuts are another example of the majority’s misplaced priorities,” Slocum said. “Cutting critically important programs and raiding funds dedicated for other purposes is simply wrong and will hurt public safety in our communities.”

HF 853 reduces funding for probation supervision, battered women services, victims of child sex abuse, at-risk youth, chemical dependency treatment, sexual assault victims, and law enforcement efforts to stop gang violence and drug trafficking.

“This bill cuts funding for proven programs dedicated to helping victims and the vulnerable,” Slocum added. “Cutting funding for these programs is immoral.”

Additionally, the bill transfers $8.5 million from the Fire Safety Account and the emergency responder radio system to the general fund. HF 853 also requires local governments to house offenders without any state reimbursement, providing another unfunded mandate for local governments, and an addition to Minnesotan’s property taxes.

“Fundamentally, my Republican colleagues would rather roll out a bill that causes tremendous statewide pain rather than ask the wealthiest five percent of Minnesotans to pay their fair share in taxes,” Slocum said. “Minnesotans deserve better than this.”